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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Batt Put Backbone Into Racism Battle

As Idaho tribal leaders would say, he walked the talk.

Unlike other Idaho politicians, Republican Gov. Phil Batt doesn’t mince words when he talks about racism. He despises it.

So, he surprised no one last week when he denounced hate groups in his final State of the State address. In fact, he may have saved his best for last: “Idaho has received unwarranted and unfair attention because of a handful of malcontents and screwballs who have chosen to make their home here,” Batt said.

“The hatred which spews forth from such evil people as the Aryan Nations is beneath contempt. We denounce such blatant racism and resolve that we will do all we can, within the constraints of free speech, to discredit these pseudo Idahoans.”

That statement was met by thunderous applause from legislators, the loudest and longest of his nearly hourlong speech. Batt deserved it - not only for saying the right words but for living them throughout his distinguished political career. As Idaho tribal leaders would say, he walked the talk.

Early on, as an onion farmer/ legislator from Wilder, he fought to require farmers to supply toilets in the fields for workers, many of whom were migrants. Later, he was instrumental in passing the Idaho Civil Rights Act. As governor, he accomplished the near impossible, persuading the stubborn farmers who dominate the Republican Legislature to extend workers’ compensation coverage to agriculture - this, after Democratic governors Cecil Andrus and John Evans had tried vainly for two decades to pass a similar bill.

In December 1995, while Congressman Helen Chenoweth still was a militia pinup girl, Batt took on hate groups in their back yard. After former Los Angeles detective Mark Fuhrman moved to Sandpoint, Batt visited the North Idaho town to combat bad publicity and rally the community.

His message was the same then: “We are among the least deserving of any states to receive negative national reviews. Why then is there so much interest in your image? It is because a handful of high-profile people - whose views espouse bizarre causes - have chosen to make Bonner County their home.”

Nothing, however, speaks as eloquently about Batt’s record on human rights as comments made by Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council member Marjorie Zarate last fall during a meeting with the governor: “We’re very disappointed to hear and disheartened to hear you are not seeking re-election.” At the time, Batt and Idaho’s five Indian tribes sharply disagreed about reservation gambling.

Yet, the tribes respected him because he’d fulfilled his commitment to open dialogue with them. Batt solved problems and headed off problems with the tribes by meeting almost monthly with them.

Now, Idaho’s tribes and other minority groups hope Batt’s successor will have the same enlightened attitude.

So do we.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board